Lead accumulation in the roots of grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.): a novel plant for phytoremediation systems?
Eleven day-old grass pea plants (Lathyrus sativus L.) were grown hydroponically for 96 h in the presence of 0.5 mM lead nitrate (Pb(NO(3))(2)). The survival rate was 100%. The mean lead content (measured by ICP-OES) in root tissues was 153 mg Pb g(-1) dry matter. Over three quarters of the lead was not labile. Compared with control plants, lead-exposed plants showed a six-fold, two-fold and three and a half-fold reduction in their root calcium, zinc and copper contents, respectively. Together, these results suggested that Lathyrus sativus L. was tolerant to a deficiency in essential nutrients and able to store large amounts of lead in its root tissues. Therefore, it could be used for the development of new rhizofiltration systems.
Brunet
Judicaëlle
J
Laboratoire d'écophysiologie moléculaire (UMR-IRD 137), Université Paris Est, Créteil cedex, France.
Repellin
Anne
A
Varrault
Gilles
G
Terryn
Nancy
N
Zuily-Fodil
Yasmine
Y
D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D018533:Biomass; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D003300:Copper / Q000378:metabolism; D018525:Germination; D018527:Hydroponics; D027807:Lathyrus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D007854:Lead / Q000378:metabolism*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000378:metabolism; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000378:metabolism*; D015032:Zinc / Q000378:metabolism
D007854:Lead; D003300:Copper; D015032:Zinc; D002118:Calcium